ProSieben shuffle at top

Bartl to replace departed Jocic

German TV group ProSiebenSat 1 has named Andreas Bartl managing director of the ProSieben channel, replacing sacked topper Dejan Jocic.

His ouster follows a year in which ProSieben lost ground to rival webs, while other channels in the ProSiebenSat 1 group boosted ratings.

Company said the 33-year-old Jocic was leaving ProSieben due to differences in opinion over the station’s direction.

Under Jocic’s management, the web launched a number of unsuccessful formats including “Apprentice” clone “Hire or Fire” and “Sex and the City” ripoff “Alles ausser Sex” (Everything but Sex).

Yet Jocic, who took the ProSieben helm in May 2004, also oversaw successful shows like romance format “Sarah & Marc in Love,” extended the popular science skein “Galileo” and launched “Galileo Spezial.” He also established the “Made-by-ProSieben” series, which showcased hit movies such as “Tsunami.”

Bartl, who heads the group’s Kabel Eins web, will oversee both channels until a replacement is found in the coming weeks.

Bartl, 42, joined ProSieben in 1991 and became head of film production in 1995. The following year he was appointed head of program planning and in 1997 deputy program director of the station.

He was appointed chief program director at Kabel Eins in October 2000.